Chris Matthews Retires from MSNBC

The host of "Hardball" made a shocking announcement Monday evening after more than 20 years with the network.

MSNBC host Chris Matthews announced his retirement from the network Monday night after more than 20 years on the left cable channel.

He will be replaced at 7 p.m. by a group of rotating hosts.

As Matthews is due to retire in the near future, this sudden announcement comes amid a series of recent flaps and controversies.

Last week, Matthews apologized to Bernie Sanders for comparing his rise in the 2020 presidential campaign to the German invasion of France. He also confused an African American politician, Democrat Jaime Harrison, with another African American politician, Republican Senator Tim Scott, whom he subsequently corrected on the air.

"Let me start with my title tonight:" I'm retiring, "said Matthews." This is the last Hardball on MSNBC, and it’s obviously not for lack of interest in politics. As you can see, I loved every minute of my 20 years as a Hardball. Every morning I read the newspapers and I'm gung-ho to go to work. Few have had this privilege. … I am very proud of the work that I have accomplished here. "

He continued: "I love working with my producers and the discussions we have on how to report the news, and I love having this connection with you, the good people watching. I & # 39; have learned who you are, meeting you on the sidewalk or wait at an airport and say hello. "

Matthews explained: "After a conversation with MSNBC, I decided that tonight would be my last Hardball, so let me tell you why. The young generation is ready to take the reins. We see them in politics, in the media, in the cause struggle. They improved the workplace. We are talking about better standards than the ones we grew up with – fair standards. "

Longtime host seemed to be referring inappropriate comments he would have made a female guest, Laura Bassett, in 2016. "It largely depends on how we talk to each other," said Matthews. "The compliments on the appearance of women that some men, including me, may have mistakenly thought were OK were never OK. Not at that time and certainly not today. And for having made such comments in the past, I'm sorry. "

Matthews said that he was working on another book and that he would "continue to write and talk about politics and encourage my producers and my team here in Washington in New York and my MSNBC colleagues. They will continue to produce excellent journalism in the years to come. For those of you who have grown accustomed to watching Hardball every night i hope i will miss you, because i will miss you. But remember Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca: We will always have Hardball. So let's not say "Goodbye", but "Until we meet again". "

Matthews signed after his initial announcement and was replaced on Monday's broadcast by Steve Kornacki.

"It was a lot to absorb, just now, I'm sure," Kornacki told viewers. "And I'm sure you still absorb that, and so do I. Chris Matthews is a giant. He is a legend. It was an honor for me to work with him, to sit here at the 39. Opportunity. And I know how much you meant to him, and I know how much he meant to you. I think he will miss you, and I know I will. ”

Due to the brutality of the announcement, Kornacki said: "We are not going to have bells or whistles here. We have to fill in the rest of this hour."

Defense group UltraViolet Action on Thursday called on MSNBC to fire Matthews for his aggressive interrogation of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, but the network remained silent until the start announced on Monday evening .

Matthews hosted his Friday night show in South Carolina but did not appear on MSNBC coverage of Saturday's primary in the state.

Matthews celebrated his 20th birthday at MSNBC in November and was toasted by colleagues NBC and MSNBC. "Congratulations on a remarkable milestone, 20 years, and I wish you much more", NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt said at the time.

Matthews had prostate cancer surgery in October.

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– Hardball (@hardball) March 3, 2020